Azienda biotecnologica USA:"Vaccino anti-AIDS forse entro il 2005"

[Dragonball]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...pe/default.stm

Monday, 8 July, 2002, 15:17 GMT 16:17 UK
New hope for Aids vaccine


A US biotechnology company has been giving details of a vaccine against Aids, which it hopes could be available by 2005, to delegates attending the International Aids Conference in Barcelona.

The head of VaxGen, Donald Francis, said the vaccine worked on chimpanzees and he was optimistic about the results of trials on humans, due to be published next year.

VaxGen's vaccine will be part of the biggest-ever HIV vaccine trial due to begin later this year in Thailand with the involvement of 16,000 people.

Reports of scientific progress were accompanied by warnings that rich nations needed to spend more to help bring the epidemic under control.

Malaysian activist Irene Fernandez told the conference that North American and European countries were not meeting their targets for foreign aid set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

If they did, she said, there would be enough money to fund Aids-prevention programmes.

The six-day conference is organised by the United Nations agency UNAids and is being attended by 15,000 delegates.


Licence conditions


In the Thai trial, VaxGen's product will be tested in combination with another vaccine, designed to produce a different type of immune response. Scientists hope this will result in a higher level of protection than either vaccine would induce on its own.

But VaxGen is optimistic that its product will also work as a sole vaccine.

"I think we will get protection [from the virus], but I don't know what level we'll get," Mr Francis said.

"If all goes well, [the vaccine] could be available by the end of 2004 or early 2005."

Campaigners have given a cautious welcome to VaxGen's announcement, but say it is necessary to wait for the analysis of clinical trials.

BBC health correspondent Chris Hogg says that 21 years after the fight against Aids began, only eight vaccines are currently being tested on humans to any significant degree.

Most of these are still in the early stages. VaxGen is the only company testing its products on humans in an end-stage trial.

To be granted a licence, however, it will have to show the vaccine is effective in at least one-third of patients.

Immunisation hopes

Jose Esparza, co-ordinator of the UNAids HIV vaccine initiative in Geneva, said VaxGen's announcement was "premature", although he praised the company's commitment to developing a vaccine.



We would hope to use it as part of immunisation for every child so we can put an end to this terrible disease

Dr Seth Berkley, IAVI
"If the vaccine is effective then we will have a cause for celebration, but even then it will not be the end of the epidemic," he said.

The umbrella body promoting research, the International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), warned that preparations needed to begin now for the distribution of a successful vaccine to the countries most in need.

Most importantly, it eould have to be made affordable.

IAVI president Dr Seth Berkley told the BBC that vaccination would initially be targeted at high-risk groups such as intravenous drug users and commercial sex workers.

But he said it was hoped one day that a vaccine would be available for everyone.

"We would hope to use it as part of immunisation for every child so we can put an end to this terrible disease."

Blocking out HIV

The conference also heard about a drug which tests have shown cuts the levels of HIV in patients by stopping it entering blood cells.

The injectable T-20 drug, made by Roche Holding AG of Switzerland and US biotech firm Trimeris Inc is due to go on to the market early next year.

It is said to offer hope to patients with serious drug resistance problems.

Existing treatments attack HIV only after it has entered cells.




Monday, 8 July, 2002, 11:21 GMT 12:21 UK
Q&A: Aids vaccine
A vaccine to protect against Aids could be available in as little as five years, a company has said.


What is the significance of this announcement?


American company Vaxgen has announced a vaccine against Aids could be available within five years, rather than 10 as was previously thought.

It is the only one in Phase III tests in humans, where scientists are only looking to see if the vaccine prevents HIV infection.

Another vaccine is in Phase II trials, which look at dosage and immune response, and about six are in Phase I safety trials.


How do Aids vaccines work?


These HIV vaccines prevent infection by stimulating the production of antibodies.

Aids vaccines tend to use specific parts of HIV, such as genes or proteins to activate the body's immune defences.

Once the body recognises these, the hope is that it can mount a vigorous defence when it encounters the real virus.

To combat HIV effectively, scientists will have to follow the model of the flu virus and constantly change the vaccine to try to keep up with the latest mutations of the virus.


Why has it taken so long for scientists to reach this stage?


It is 21 years since scientists began the battle against Aids, but it is an extremely complicated condition.

There are different strains of HIV, and the virus constantly mutates, meaning scientists have found it very difficult understand how it works.

We are seeing developments in treatments and vaccines now because experts understand much more about the virus.

This is partly because they have been able to monitor people living with HIV and see how they respond to antiretroviral medications.


Who is it being tested on?


The vaccine is being tested on high risk groups. In North America and Europe, it is being tested on gay men, and in South East Asia, it is being tested on drug users.


How soon could people be given this vaccine?


If results due out in the early part of 2003 show the vaccine is 30% effective, it could be licensed within five years.

Before now, it was thought it would be at least 10 years.

But Martin Kirk of the Terrence Higgins Trust said people should be cautious: "All that Vaxgen is saying is if their results are good, there might be a vaccine within five years."


Who will be given it?


Seth Berkley, president of the International Aids Vaccine Initiative, told the BBC that once the vaccine was available, it would be directed first of all at high risk groups, such as commercial sex workers and intravenous drug users.

But he said once it had been proved to be safe and effective it could be made part of the immunisation programme. "We would hope to protect every child form this disease."


So will everyone who needs it be able to have the vaccine?


There are both scientific and practical problems in ensuring everyone has access to a vaccine.

Different stains of HIV tend to be prevalent in different areas.

As the Vaxgen vaccine is being tested in Europe, Asia and America, so scientists do not yet know if it will be of any help to people in sub-Saharan Africa, currently hardest hit by the Aids epidemic, where a different strain predominates.

Campaigners are also calling for governments to ensure the infrastructure is in place so that once a vaccine is developed it can be manufactured and distributed rapidly, and at a cost which developing countries can afford.


Su Brunik...ancora pochi anni e dopo puoi ritonare come al solito in Thailandia.

Eh ma sono sempre gli USA a creare e inventare: e dal Marocco?Dal progredito mondo arabo che ci "arrichisce" culturalmente con la sua immigrazione...nulla invece?Che strano...

[antoninus]

E gli esponenti dell'anti-americanismo? Qualche commento?

[soviet999]

Chissà quanto lo faranno pagare al terzo mondo questi bastardi!

MORTE AI BREVETTI!

[yurj]

Originally posted by soviet999
Chissà quanto lo faranno pagare al terzo mondo questi bastardi!

MORTE AI BREVETTI!

La politica degli annunci serve a far alzare i titoli in borsa. Quante volte abbiamo sentito del vaccino dell'AIDS?

In realta', non si sa ancora cosa sia l'AIDS e cosa lo provoca, figurati se hanno un vaccino.

TRal'altro anche Cuba ha annunciato un vaccino per il 2000, era il 1995

[yurj]

Originally posted by WASP

Questo articolo e' completely FUD.

1 - identifica l'AIDS con l'HIV, della serie balle spaziali..

2 - il contenuto dell'articolo e'.. "comprate le nostre azioni!!!"

Dragon, sei scusato, mica si puo' essere informati su tutto

[Dragonball]

Originally posted by yurj



Questo articolo e' completely FUD.

1 - identifica l'AIDS con l'HIV, della serie balle spaziali..

2 - il contenuto dell'articolo e'.. "comprate le nostre azioni!!!"

Dragon, sei scusato, mica si puo' essere informati su tutto

Ottimo: e' interessante sapere che yury e' + affidabile della BBC

[Dragonball]

Originally posted by soviet999
MORTE AI BREVETTI!

Interessante: e chi ripaga,per i loro sforzi,allora i ricercatori che si fanno un c*lo cosi' per trovare una cura:tu?

[yurj]

Originally posted by WASP


Interessante: e chi ripaga,per i loro sforzi,allora i ricercatori che si fanno un c*lo cosi' per trovare una cura:tu?

tu....tti

P.S: quello e' uno spot per la vendita di azioni, di scientifico c'e' 0.

Inoltre, parla di HIV e AIDS come fossero la stessa cosa.

Ultimo, ma non meno importante, si salvano piu' persone dall'AIDS con il cibo, non con un presunto vaccino.

[Felix (POL)]

Originally posted by soviet999

MORTE AI BREVETTI!

concordo: morte ai brevetti! e chissenefrega del culo dei ricercatori! se questi ricercano per riempirsi le tasche di dollari anziché per nobili ideali allora non meritano nessuna considerazione...

[soviet999]

Possono ricevere un giusto compenso dallo stato, ma le scoperte mediche devono essere pubbliche, il sapere non è privato!